Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

I am currently working on the brakes, which the way I see it work by rotating the cam lobe (the long side) against the primary shoe, which energizes the sec. shoe. The short side of the cam actuates the auxiliary shoe. This is how it is set up the front.

The rears, however are different. With the arrow on the cam pointing forward, the long side of the cam works on the aux. shoe, and the short side works the prim. and sec. shoe. The problem- The aux. shoe hits the drum way before the prim/sec.shoe therefore only giving one shoe that works. And it is not self-energizing, and working AGAINST the cam action, instead of WITH it, like the fronts.

The splined arms are on there correct sides and are pointing down like in the pic I found in the 326 owners manual on this site. So, did Packard do this on purpose to get the front/rear brake balance right? Less rear brake, more front?
Am I missing something? I have flipped the cams backward (arrow pointing to rear) and now the brake action seems correct, and works like the fronts.

I hope y'all could help me out. I don't want to send the car out with improperly working brakes. Thanks!

The late Bob Aller made a suggestion about adjusting the mechanical brakes on Packards at last year's Salado Meet. He suggested that the front brake rods be disconnected, adjust the rear brakes and rods, and then adjust the front brakes and rods so that the rear brakes engage just ever so slightly before the fronts. He said would provide more effective braking action. I know this doesn't answer your question about brake shoe adjustment, but may help after you get it figured out.

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G'day molassesbros,
to PackardInfo but sorry I can't help with your request. I was going to ask if you could include the '27 in the Owner Registry here but it looks like you're working on a customers Packard. Maybe you could pass on details about PackardInfo to the owner so he can add in the '27 426 if he wishes?

Your rear brakes are installed backwards! The primary shoe must be engaged first, or else you get exactly the situation you described and you end up with a largely front wheel only braking car. On the rear this is an easy mistake to make (don't ask) because of the orientation of the brakes with the cam at the front instead of the top of the backing plate.

Tom

Thanks for the quick resposes, and the welcome sign! I talked with a man named John Ulrich, who suggested I do the same procedure to adjust the brakes, by disconnecting the front and so on....makes sense to me. That way you are only trying to sort out one system at a time. Thanks for the confirmation.

My brakes are backwards! Scary, but according to the manual (the owner found them yesterday), the brake shoes, arms, and linkage are installed correctly; with the primary shoe @ the forward bottom third. The secondary @ the rearward bottom third, and the aux shoe facing up. What is not clear in the picture is which way the arrow points on the cam. Froward or backward? I'm going to make it so the primary shoe works fist, and go for a road test.

Thanks again

I'll pass the registry question on to the owner, I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I sent the info to this you. He also owns a '37 and an early 40's. He uses them for his limo service. I also remember seeing those anti-theft numbers on one of his cars. I'll send those if the person doing the data base thing is still interested.

Yeah, the position of the primary shoe is correct, so the cam is reversed.

Tom

Thanks Tom. I feel better now that it will have 4 wheel brakes instead of 2!

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for that. If you, or the owner, could add all three to the Registry that would be great. And good to hear these are "working" Packards, getting out and about regularly. I'm sure Dave(Owen_Dyneto) would be grateful for more info for his project.